(NEWARK, NJ) -- Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD) announces the official 20th Anniversary of the non-profit organization marking two decades of arts, culture, and community development.  Upon the occasion of its platinum anniversary milestone, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District will host its first-ever full in-person fundraising benefit awards dinner entitled The Lagniappe Experience: Dîner en Noir et Blanc (in Black & White) at the nearly 100 year-old Newark Symphony Hall on Thursday, December 8th, 2022 at 5:30pm-10:00pm.

In the past 50 years alone, Newark Symphony Hall has played host to Gladys Knight, The O’Jays, Richard Pryor, Queen Latifah, Dick Gregory, Marilia Mendonca, Vice Ganda, Beverly Sills, Patti LaBelle, Robert Merrill and Leontyne Price.  Another legendary moment inspired LPCCD’s The Lagniappe Experience: Dîner en Noir et Blanc (in Black & White) – the Black & White Ball of 1966 dubbed “The Party of The Century” – sprinkled with Black creole culture of New Orleans and a little “Brick City” edge.  Guests are requested to wear combinations of Black and White with pops of The Lagniappe Experience’s signature purple.  

"We're honored to be partnering with Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District for this milestone and excited that Newark Symphony Hall will host the LPCCD's first-ever in-person benefit gala," said Talia Young, interim CEO of Newark Symphony Hall. "For 20 years, the LPCCD has successfully worked toward equitable community development via the arts by leveraging Black voices and culture—a mission that is closely shared with Newark Symphony Hall and one that we look forward to pursuing together at this event."

“Hosting our first-ever in person fundraiser gala in the community we serve connects directly to our mission and vision of creative placemaking and place-keeping” states Anthony Smith, executive director of Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District. “This, aligned with our Lincoln Park 10-year resident driven action plan, reimagines the cluster based economic development model through the arts.  Mayor Baraka’s vision for an Arts & Education District anchored by Lincoln Park on the southern end further codifies the catchment area which increases potential mixed use residential-commercial development, retail corridor improvement, quality of life improvement and enhanced mobility options.  This is what circulating the dollar in our community looks like.”  

The Lagniappe Experience, which translates to “a little something special”, is a fundraising event that will benefit the non-profit’s capacity and work in Arts & Culture, Green Jobs Training, Community Engagement and serve to support the 2023-2024 Capital Campaign and help operationalize the Lincoln Park Façade facility once completed. 

AMIRI BARAKA BLACK ARTS LEGACY AWARD HONOREE 2022 - John Amos, Sr., Actor, Living Legend, Newark Native. Award winning actor John Amos Sr’s inspiring and illustrious career in theater, television and film spans over 50 years and is the definition of representation matters.  As an actor, Amos has been nominated for a 1977 Primetime Emmy, 1993 Cable ACE Award, 1996 NAACP Image Award, 2021 Orlando Film Festival Best Actor Award and winner of several TV Land Awards in 2004, 2006 and 2007 for “Groundbreaking Show” (“Mary Tyler Moore Show”), “Impact Award” (“Good Times”), and “Anniversary Award” for the 30th Anniversary of Roots respectively. 

Born in Newark NJ and raised in East Orange, a son of a mechanic, living legend actor ad star of stage, screen and television, John Amos Sr. won the recurring role of the sporadically-unemployed husband of maid Florida Evans (played by Esther Rolle) on Norman Lear's Maude (1972) starring Bea Arthur. The two characters were spun-off into their own popular series as the parental leads in Good Times (1974).  Amos starred or guest starred in more than 100 iconic films and television shows including “Hunter”, "The A-Team", "One Life to Live", "Murder, She Wrote", “In The House”, “The District”, “All About The Andersons”, “The West Wing”, “Madea’s Witness Protection”, “Uncut Gems”, “The Last OG” and the ever popular classic duo of films “Coming To America” and “Coming To America 2”.  John Amos has to his credit, theater productions such as 1985’s "Split Second", a play which earned him the NAACP Award as Best Actor. He also received fine reviews in a Berkshire Theater festival production of "The Boys Next Door", a tour of O'Neill's towering play "The Emperor Jones", and in a Detroit production of Athol Fugard's "Master Harold...and The Boys". In addition, John directed two productions, "Miss Reardon Drinks a Little" and "Twelve Angry Men", in the Bahamas. He took on Shakespeare as Sir Toby Belch in "Twelfth Night" at Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare and earned strong notices in the late August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fences" at the Capital Repertory Company in Albany, New York. Overseas he received plaudits for his appearance in a heralded production of "The Life and Death of a Buffalo Soldier" at the Bristol's Old Vic in England.

Capping his theatrical career was the 1990 inaugural of his one-man show "Halley's Comet", an amusing and humanistic American journey into the life of an 87-year-old who recalls, among other things, World War II, the golden age of radio, the early civil rights movement, and the sighting of the Comet when he was 11. He wrote and has frequently directed the show, which continues to play into the 2007-2008 season.  In recent years, John has enjoyed recurring television and film roles.  John Amos has two children by his former wife Noel Amos and two children.  His son K.C. Amos is a director, writer, producer, editor and daughter Shannon Amos a director, writer and producer.  Amos has one grand-daughter, Quiera Williams.

LAGNIAPPE AWARDS HONOREES 2022

* Aisha Glover, Vice President of Urban Innovation at the Global Center for Urban Development, Audible

* Tai Cooper, Chief Community Development Officer, New Jersey Economic Development Authority

* Theresa Marshall, Founding Member Board of Trustees, LPCCD and President, Adventus II, Inc.

* Robin Shorter, Senior Director of. Community Engagement, Integrity House

* Jorge Cruz, Executive Director, Newark LISC

* fayemi shakur, Director of Cultural Affairs, City of Newark

* Kai Campbell, Envisionary, Walla Food & Beverage Group

* Elnardo J. Webster II., Attorney at Law, Partner, Inglesino, Webster, Wyciskala & Taylor, LLC

EVENT HOST - Al Reynolds, Host of Fox Soul’s TEA-G-I-F. 

Al Reynolds is an award winning American Television journalist and co-host on Fox Soul’s, TEA-G-I-F.  The TEA G-I-F cast’s undeniable chemistry captivates viewers, propelling the program forward as Fox Soul’s #1 rated show. Al provides unabridged commentary on current events and all things sports, entertainment, music, film, pop culture and politics. Mr. Reynolds’s commentary is described as factual, frank, and well-researched.  Frequently touted for his fiery retorts and impassioned appeals to common sense, Mr. Reynolds offers a new brand of television host. The unique combination of a compelling, raw personal narrative and a diverse history of participation in the entertainment industry produces the award winning presence that dominates the scene TEA G-I-F. Mr Reynolds was awarded the Media & Arts Award at the 8th Annual Truth Awards Ceremony, a ceremony which celebrates the contributions of Black LGBTQ+ members and allies in the entertainment industry.   As Founder and President of Champion Advisors, Mr. Reynolds is also a highly accomplished Business Development professional.  He has served as Executive Vice President of Sirius XM Urban Platform; Executive Global Ambassador of Gant Clothing Line North America; and began his career at Pfizer & Parke-Davis.

SPECIAL LIVE PERFORMANCE - Leah Jenea. Leah was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey.  The beautiful and talented Leah Jenea is a Hip Hop and Soul singer who is known for both her fantastic covers and wonderful original songs. She has performed for several campaigns, including the Women of the World conference, and the Councilman at Large campaign. She is also known for her dazzling debut on Fox’s reality show, The Four: Battle For Stardom with judges Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, DJ Khaled and Meghan Trainor hosted by Fergie. Many will recall Leah Jenea from her dazzling debut where she wowed the judges as one of the show’s youngest competitors and quickly rose to become a fan favorite.  Her 2018 was filled with well-deserved success, though her 2023 is about to one up the previous years. Leah Jenea released her latest Album, "Crooked Love Story" (Released July 2nd 2020) during the pandemic, and the 22-year-old upstart is geared to craft music that melds the old school with the new school and finally give her fans the sound they've been waiting for!

Tickets area available for purchase online.

Newark Symphony Hall is located at 1020 Broad Street in Newark, New Jersey.